Immune Boosting Bone Broth Soup

​
​Have you ever wondered, how some people get sick very often and are more prone to catching colds and flus while others are rarely sick? It’s all about the body’s immune system. The immune system is the first line of defense against an alien microorganism entering the body. 
 
A healthy immune system reduces your chance of developing viral infections, the flu or colds and helps fight seasonal allergies. The benefits of boosting your immune system go beyond just warding off illness, it will increase your energy, productivity and enhance your mood and build resiliency in times of physical or emotional stress.
 
In my Immune Boosting workshop, I share several ways to improve your immune system, increase energy and help with productivity and weight loss. I’d like to share one of those ways. One of the best foods to eat that is packed with nutrition, vitamins and minerals, is bone broth soup. Bone broth is simple to make, it’s timeless, and it’s where we can go when we want to get back to the basics. Bone broth soup is loaded with amino acids like arginine, glutamine, and cysteine, have been shown to boost immunity in humans and animals (the soup is very healing for your dog or cat but please omit the onion which is toxic for animals). It helps fight inflammation, improve joint mobility and even help with weight loss. Bone broth soup improves the gut bacteria and that impacts all facets of your health. Why is this so? Because up to 80% of our immune system is located in our intestinal tract.
 
Here is a simple and easy recipe you can make and enjoy as a warm and hearty soup or use as a healthy culinary stock for your other recipes. The key to this recipe is the length of cooking time. Use a slow cooker/crock pot, set on low and allow this soup to cook for 24 hours.
_____________________________________ RECIPE _____________________________________

Ingredients:
1 organic-free range chicken.
Choose organic / free range when you can. The quality of organic is important as the animal has been raised with no added hormones or antibiotics and is raised in better quality living conditions, its more humane and provides more nutrition as nature intended.
1 large onion, sliced in quarters
2-3 celery stalks, chopped in 2 parts
2-3 carrots, peel on and chopped in 2 parts
2 garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
2 TBSP Braggs Raw Apple Cider Vinegar
3 TBSP Italian Seasoning Blend or other preferred spices and seasoning
1 TBSP Salt and Pepper each or to taste
12 cups water
 
Preparation:
Cook a roasting chicken in oven for 2-3 hours at 350 degrees, depending on size.
Cut away the breast and thigh meat and set aside, covered in fridge overnight.
Place the roasted chicken, carcass and all in the slow cooker/crock pot with all the ingredients. Cover with water and set on low. Cook for 24 hours.
 
Strain the broth using a colander to collect all the vegetables, spices and bones. Store the broth in glass bowls or mason jars. Enjoy the soup as a warmed broth or make a hearty chicken vegetable soup with the following preparation:
 
Place the broth in a large pot and place on low heat on stovetop. Add the roasted chicken meat you have reserved in fridge (roughly chopped into small chunks) and add any veggies or noodles you enjoy in your soup and cook until tender.
 
Makes 4 servings

__________________________________________________________________________________

*Please note: you can follow this recipe using beef bones as well. For larger quantities, double up on the recipe. Enjoy!

Peace, love and pear!
Christine Porter